John Lindquist was promoted on Friday, March 21, 2014. < Back Sheriff’s detective promoted to sergeant John Lindquist was promoted on Friday, March 21, 2014. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada is pleased to announce the promotion of Sheriff’s Detective John Lindquist to sergeant. On Friday, March 21, 2014, in a ceremony conducted at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and attended by both family members and department employees, John Lindquist was officially sworn in as the newest sergeant in the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. A 14-year veteran of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Law Enforcement, Sgt. Lindquist began his law enforcement career as a sheriff’s officer in 2000. A graduate of the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, Sgt. Lindquist has held numerous positions within the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office throughout his career including courts & transports, traffic enforcement, department evidence officer, the Sheriff’s Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Since 2006, Sgt. Linquist has been assigned to the Sheriff’s detective bureau. A certified firearms instructor, Linquist continues to serve as the department’s armorer and rangemaster during weapons qualifications. Following his promotion, Sgt. Lindquist will be assigned to supervise the courthouse security and prisoner transportation unit. Sheriff Strada congratulates Sergeant Lindquist and wishes him continued success in his career.

Sheriff's detectives provided assistance to the Pennsylvania State Police in the investigation of a homicide involving a new born infant. < Back Sheriff's detectives assist PA authorities in homicide investigation Sheriff's detectives provided assistance to the Pennsylvania State Police in the investigation of a homicide involving a new born infant. Previous Next On June 9, 2011, sheriff’s detectives Michael Yanko and Richard Otte were attempting to locate and arrest Ms. Jennifer Barrise, who was the subject of an outstanding Sussex County Superior Court warrant for nonpayment of child support. In the course of their investigation to ascertain Ms. Barrise’s whereabouts, detectives Yanko and Otte paid a visit to the family home of Ms. Barrise’s boyfriend, Christopher Fitzpatrick, in Vernon Township. Based on information acquired from Fitzpatrick’s parents, the detectives learned that Barrise and Fitzpatrick were residing in Lake Ariel, PA. Further investigation led the detectives to suspect Barrise and Fitzpatrick may have been involved in criminal activity related to a newborn child. Detective Yanko immediately contacted investigators at the Honesdale Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police. The following day, on June 10, as a result of the information furnished by Detective Yanko, the Pennsylvania State Police opened a homicide investigation and subsequently requested investigative assistance within Sussex County from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Michael Tidaback and detectives from the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office assisted Pennsylvania authorities with their investigation in New Jersey. While the matter remains under investigation in New Jersey and no charges—criminal or otherwise—are pending against either party, both Barrise and Fitzpatrick have been arrested and charged by Pennsylvania State Police. Mr. Fitzpatrick has been charged with criminal homicide, concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse. Ms. Barrise has been charged with criminal homicide and concealing the death of a child. Both are being held without bail at the Wayne County Correctional Facility in Texas Township, PA.

Arrested: Jessica J. Dutzi, age 31, of Stillwater Township, NJ. < Back Stillwater Township woman arrested for DWI Arrested: Jessica J. Dutzi, age 31, of Stillwater Township, NJ. Previous Next At approximately 2:05 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, August 18, 2012, Sheriff’s Sergeant John Gray was assigned to traffic enforcement within Hampton Township. While patrolling that area, he observed a dark colored sport utility vehicle, operated by Jessica Dutzi, failing to maintain her lane of traffic. After initiating a motor vehicle stop, speaking with Dutzi, and observing her attempt to perform several field sobriety tests, Sergeant Gray found her to be intoxicated. Sergeant Gray took Dutzi into custody and transported her back to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office where she was processed and released. She was issued summonses for the following offenses: reckless driving, failure to keep right, driving while intoxicated, driving while suspended and obstruction Dutzi was released pending a September 5, 2012 court appearance in Hampton Township Municipal Court. Sheriff’s Officer’s Samantha Schilling and Sheriff’s Corporal Dan Storey assisted in the arrest.

The Office of Emergency Management has put out an advisory regarding the impending winter storm. < Back About the impending winter storm from OEM The Office of Emergency Management has put out an advisory regarding the impending winter storm. Previous Next The Sussex County Office of Emergency Management has been monitoring the approaching storm. We have been in continual communications with the our partners at the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, NJOEM, JCP&L, Sussex Rural Electric and our twenty-four municipal offices of emergency management. We will continue these communications in an effort to promote situational awareness and provide guidance for countywide planning efforts. A winter storm warning is in effect from 1 PM today until 1 PM on Friday for most of New Jersey and 1 PM today until 1 PM Friday for northernmost New Jersey. Snow accumulation will range from 6 to 10 inches. Impacts Travel will become hazardous late Thursday as snow increases. This will be an increasingly fluffy snow and as winds increase Thursday night, blowing and drifting snow will make travel even more hazardous. Road plowing operations will be greatly affected, especially due to blowing and drifting snow and also snowfall rates near an inch per hour at times during the height of the storm Thursday night. Temperatures 20s to lower 30s Thursday, then dropping into the teens and single digits Thursday night into Friday. Wind Chills The combination of very cold temperatures and gusty winds later Thursday night will create dangerous wind chills ranging from 5 below to 20 below zero. The higher elevations should have the most dangerous wind chills. Humans and animals exposed to these extreme temeratures for any length of time will be in grave danger therefore, outdoor exposure should be minimized if possible. Frozen pipes in unprotected areas and concrete and asphalt pavement cracking can also be expected. Precautionary/Preparedness Actions A winter storm warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected. Heavy snow, blowing snow and dangerously cold wind chills are forecast. Travel will become dangerous. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Due caution should be exercised while traveling on roadways effected by snow accumulation. We will continue to provide updates on our Facebook page

Two separate sales are scheduled for December. < Back Upcoming sheriff's sales of assets Two separate sales are scheduled for December. Previous Next Docket #SSX -L-489-10 Tamara and Darrell Russian vs Alessi Moving and Storage Inc., Charles Alessandrini, Highlands Self Storage, LLC, Jonathan Brett (individually and trading as Highlands Self Storage), JFB Enterprises LLC On Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., the following property will be sold at a public sale on the premises of D & E Service Center, 726 US Highway 206, Andover, NJ: 2001 Isuzu Box Truck VIN JALE5B14417902663 white in color Docket #FM 19-39-05 Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell On Tuesday, December 11, 2012 Tuesday, January 8, 2013 Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., the following assets will be sold at a public sale on the premises of AA-1 Storage located at 155 Brooks Flat Rd, Ogdensburg, NJ: One 1998 Caterpillar 320B Excavator, Vin 4MR00432 One John Deere 450E Dozer, Vin # T0450EC742076 One 1998 Caterpillar 312B, Excavator Vin # 9HR02433 All items are sold in an ‘as is’ condition. Purchaser must pay purchase price at the time of sale in cash or certified check made payable to the Sussex County Sheriff and remove the items following the sale. The sheriff reserves the right to adjourn these sales; the foregoing scheduled dates are subject to change. For more information. contact the Civil Process Unit at 973.579.0850.

Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K9 Nutmeg has received a donation of body armor. < Back Sheriff’s K9 receives donated vest Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K9 Nutmeg has received a donation of body armor. Previous Next Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K9 Nutmeg has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Thi s specific vest was sponsored by William Haas of Bloomingburg, NY and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Petey and Lucky.” Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. over 3,800 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars. The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate. The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 - $2,283, and a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination via its website or mailed to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.

The sheriff's office's participation in this enforcement effort concluded with five arrests for DWI and another seven arrests for drug offenses. < Back Sheriff's office participates in statewide DWI enforcement grant The sheriff's office's participation in this enforcement effort concluded with five arrests for DWI and another seven arrests for drug offenses. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada today announced the completion of his office’s participation in the 2011 New Jersey Statewide DWI Enforcement Grant. Funding for the statewide crackdown was secured through the Over the Limit/Under Arrest grant sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The grant provided for 88 hours of enforcement during a pre-selected period in order to reduce the number of motor vehicle operators who drive their vehicles while under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. Between August 19 and September 5, 2011, sheriff’s officers arrested five individuals throughout the county for driving while intoxicated. Additionally, seven individuals were arrested and charged with narcotics related offenses. During that same period, approximately forty-six traffic summonses were issued for motor vehicle related infractions.

Officers and nurses act quickly to help inmate in cardiac distress. < Back Corrections personnel honored for saving inmate’s life Officers and nurses act quickly to help inmate in cardiac distress. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada recently recognized and awarded several members of the Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections with honors for their respective roles in saving the life of an inmate during a medical emergency. On the evening of May 8, 2015, corrections officers Brandon Fazio and Jeffrey Hilbert observed a prisoner who had collapsed and was unresponsive. They immediately contacted medical staff and ordered all inmates back to their cells. Sergeants Paul Reiher and Eric Groeger responded to their location along with nurses Jean Thompson and Cathy Toth. After determining the patient was in cardiac distress, Thompson and Toth began CPR. Corrections Officer Fazio and Sergeant Reiher began to prepare an Automated External Defibrillation device (AED) for use and, in conjunction with the medical staff performing CPR, delivered several rounds of defibrillation to the patient. The patient was ultimately airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he was placed on life support. For their actions in preserving the inmate’s life, Corrections Officer Brandon Fazio, Sergeant Paul Reiher, licensed practical nurse Jean Thompson and registered nurse Cathy Toth were presented with the Sheriff’s Life Saving Award while Sergeant Eric Groeger, Corrections Officer Jeffrey Hilbert and Corrections Officer Michael Scuzzese were presented with the Honorable Service Award. Sheriff Strada thanks each of the above named personnel for their diligence, initiative and rapid action while in the line of duty. Their successful efforts to save a person’s life reflect great credit upon themselves and the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections as a whole. From left to right: Corrections Officer Brandon Fazio, Sergeant Paul Reiher, Sheriff Michael F. Strada, LPN Jean Thompson and RN Cathy Toth.

Recipients were Sergeant John Gray of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police Trooper Victor Cabrera-Bonilla. < Back Sheriff presents life saving award to sheriff’s officer and state trooper Recipients were Sergeant John Gray of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police Trooper Victor Cabrera-Bonilla. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada presented a life saving award to Sergeant John Gray of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police Trooper Victor Cabrera-Bonilla in recognition of their response to a medical call in Sussex County. Both officers quickly responded to the call and performed “two-man CPR” while also utilizing an automated external defibrillator AED unit as the victim was in full cardiac arrest. Both Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla and Sergeant Gray continued to work together, established a heartbeat and the victim began to breathe. The victim was transported by the local first aid squad for additional medical attention and the victim survived the incident. Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada said, “The lifesaving actions of Sergeant Gray and Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla reflect the highest standards of service to the community and their performance is an example of true professionalism.” Present at the ceremony were officers of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office along with New Jersey State Police Station Commander Lieutenant Matt Avenatti of the Troop B Sussex Barracks. Lieutenant Avenatti praised the members of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office by noting that because of the seamless relationship between the two law enforcement agencies, especially as they perform training sessions together, this enabled the two officers to work effectively. Lieutenant Avenatti further stated, “Agencies that train together, respond better together for the citizens of Sussex County.” Pictured left to right: Lieutenant Matt Avenatti, Trooper Cabrera-Bonilla, Sergeant Gray and Sheriff Strada.

Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell < Back Upcoming sheriff's sale of assets Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell Previous Next Docket #FM 19-39-05 Richard Gannon vs Lauren Russell On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m., the following assets will be sold at a public sale on the premises of AA-1 Storage located at 155 Brooks Flat Road, Ogdensburg, NJ: One 1998 Caterpillar 320B Excavator, Vin 4MR00432 One John Deere 450E Dozer, Vin # T0450EC742076 One 1998 Caterpillar 312B, Excavator Vin # 9HR02433 This sale was previously scheduled to take place December 11, 2012, January 8, 2013 and then January 17, 2013. All items are sold in an ‘as is’ condition. Purchaser must pay purchase price at the time of sale in cash or certified check made payable to the Sussex County Sheriff and remove the items following the sale. The sheriff reserves the right to adjourn these sales; the foregoing scheduled dates are subject to change. For more information. contact the Civil Process Unit at 973.579.0850.

Arrested: Alfred E. Bremel, age 18, of Wantage, NJ. < Back Motor vehicle stop in Frankford results in passenger’s arrest for drugs Arrested: Alfred E. Bremel, age 18, of Wantage, NJ. Previous Next On Saturday, December 28, 2013, while assigned to countywide DWI enforcement as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” statewide campaign, Sheriff’s Officer Scott Haggerty observed a silver colored Dodge sedan failing to maintain its lane while traveling along Haggerty Road in Frankford Township. Officer Haggerty pulled the vehicle over and approached to speak with the driver. Upon speaking with the driver, Officer Haggerty immediately detected the obvious odor of marijuana from within the vehicle. Further investigation revealed one of the vehicle’s passengers, Alfred E. Bremel, to be in possession of a quantity of marijuana. Additionally, Bremel claimed ownership of a quantity of alcohol which was also in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was issued a summons for failure to maintain lane and Bremel was arrested, transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing, and subsequently released. Alfred E. Bremel was charged with the following offenses: possession of alcohol under the legal age, possession of marijuana in an amount less than 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bremel was given a future court date to appear in Frankford Township Municipal Court. Sheriff’s Officer Warren Slahor assisted in the arrest.

Seniors are invited to attend this free event in Branchville on September 21, 2012. < Back TRIAD law enforcement seminar to be held in September Seniors are invited to attend this free event in Branchville on September 21, 2012. Previous Next On Friday, September 21, 2012, Sussex County TRIAD will be hosting a law enforcement seminar for seniors at Selective Insurance, 40 Wantage Avenue in the Borough of Branchville from 8 a.m. to 12 noon with a free continental breakfast included. The seminar will include classes on home security and computer safety and a demonstration by the Sussex County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit. Seniors will have the opportunity to meet with law enforcement officers and county personnel to gather information on current crimes affecting seniors, facts to combat unwarranted fear of crime, problems faced by seniors and programs that are offered by the Sussex County Division of Senior Services. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Terry Kelemen, TRIAD coordinator at 973.579.0888, ext. 2508.